Apple's Upcoming BlackMagic eGPU Pro Delayed Until December

[albusseverus]

I realise this thing needs to be close to the Mac and perhaps some 'design' is desirable, but seriously - could this be uglier? Anyone who designed this couldn't care what went into it.

Apple really seems to be hanging its whole strategy on eGPU. Expect your "modular" Mac Pro to need eGPU. That's where Apple got burned with the cylinder, wasn't it? Couldn't or wouldn't upgrade GPUs, so now it will be a Windows-like jumble of… oh you want the LATEST GPU, well we'll keep churning them out faster than developers can get their software to work properly with them. Talk about a nightmare. And maybe that's what bleeding edge customers want.

 

[genovelle]

Its amazing how so many products Apple introduces are not available at the original release time frame (some cases are more than a year). Its almost like Apple management has no clue what they are doing. With Jobs people were fired for missing deadlines, but now it seems its just, "Oh, well, we'll try harder next time."

Does not give one a lot of confidence in the new Apple.

Steve Jobs always said. We release products when they are ready. Sticking to a schedule was not his way. Cook veered away from that some in the beginning but after the Maps fiasco he transitioned back to the release it when it done philosophy.

 

[Zdigital2015]

What's comical is your comment. This is an $800 graphics card.

Sorry, no cigar. The AMD Vega 56 is a hovering around $500-$549 averaged out, although finding one, especially a Sapphire Tech Nitro, is proving challenging at best. Add a Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box and you should be able to roll your own for around $800-$850, possibly lower. The 50% premium for the Blackmagic eGPU Pro is a bit much for this model. It’s a quality unit, but that extra money would be better spent on extra DRAM or an external SSD, depending on your needs.
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So right you are. I still buy Apple because of the ecosystem, but I keep waiting for MS or Google to provide a 'viable' alternative.

It is going to be a long, long wait...

 

[TitaniumTiti]

People get eGPU to have Nvidia cards, not Radeon. Best render engines runs on Nvidia.

Not sure, nVidia is great for games and some CAD soft optimized for it, but I always prefered ATI, better results for my CAD soft, nVidia had a bad tendency to cut corner in name of speed. Also hate the lack of OpenCL (cuda single hardware no thanks).

 

[trip1ex]

This or an entire gaming pc to go with my Mac?

 

[brendu]

What's comical is your comment. This is an $800 graphics card.

Yeahhhh no.. it really isn't.

 

[phillpot]

Just got a Razer CoreX setup with a RX Vega 64 working just fine with the new Mac mini. Scoring 134 on cinebench. There’s been a few weird hiccups (compressor still uses the built in chipset to render even when “prefer Egpu” is selected for example) but mostly i’m Pretty happy with how everything is working. I’m sitting at $834 right now as configured for the GPU and the box. And this setup is upgradable. No dock but I don’t need a bunch of older ports anyway so to me that doesn’t matter. Unless you’re using a thunderbolt 3 driven display (LG 5k) then the black magic boxes make no sense imo.
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Yeahhhh no.. it really isn't.

Nope, $400 and a bit of change currently

 

[farm fresh]

Its amazing how so many products Apple introduces are not available at the original release time frame (some cases are more than a year). Its almost like Apple management has no clue what they are doing. With Jobs people were fired for missing deadlines, but now it seems its just, "Oh, well, we'll try harder next time."

Does not give one a lot of confidence in the new Apple.

I admit, it's not like going from $12/share in 1999 when many proudly if prematurely, claimed their doom was nigh to a stitch past $1T market cap. Buuuut I think this is mountains out of molehills, if you pardon.

 

[mschmalenbach]

Which apps work with eGPUs today?

 

[phillpot]

Which apps work with eGPUs today?

Depends what you mean. If you plug your monitor directly into the egpu, then it’s driving the display for the whole system. Rendering wise, I can confirm that FCPX currently takes advantage of the egpu for timeline and gfx performance.

 

[ChrisA]

As well as AI development which is the larger market for GPUs....

I made my own "eGPU" for AI work. It is a Xeon powered PC that runs Linux and hasNvidiaa GPU. Basicall,y it is a stand alond computer and costs not much more then this eGPU. Using an Apple computer and eGPU for AI would be downright silly.

Video editing is about the only way to justify an eGPU on a Mac. OK a few gammers with extra cash but if you are using common sense this is for Final Cut Pro X.

If you need it for AI, then you need a Linux machine, for games an Windows PC.

About price: $1,200 is chump change compared to the cost of shooting even a couple days of video footage. Almost any other kit of video gear you own costs more then this eGPU. For the target users, this is not expensive.

For playing video games, it is a waste of money.

 

[aaronhead14]

I seriously don't understand the Mac Mini + eGPU setup. It's super janky! The best use of an eGPU is to connect it to a MacBook. That way, you have a portable machine to use on the go, and a desktop-class computer once you get home.

But the idea of splitting up a home desktop PC into multiple components that sit on your desk is a super wonky idea. I don't like it at all. We need a solution where the GPU is INSIDE the Mac and can be user-upgradeable. Hmmm, what could that be... Oh! That's right. Mac Pro.

 

[Ankou_Sabat]

The one good positive that this BlackMagic eGPU has vs something like the Razer Core X is that its the only one that has a direct thunderbolt output to display from the GPU. Meaning its the only one you can output to thunderbolt input monitors. The Razer Core X is always going to be limited output to what is physically on the card. Thats something I hope they add to the update of the Razer Core X.

 

[wdwpsu]

Video editing is about the only way to justify an eGPU on a Mac. OK a few gammers with extra cash but if you are using common sense this is for Final Cut Pro X.

MacMini users who need more than the piddly HD630 iGPU...

 

[brdeveloper]

Why should I trust on Thunderbolt 3 since Thunderbolt 1 and 2 lasted for about only five years (2011-2016)? To get things worse, the TB3<->TB2 adapter from Apple receives bad reviews because of incompatibility issues when the host connection is TB2.

As a matter of comparison USB-A socket, on the other hand, lasted for about 18 years in Apple products (1998-2016).

 

[Wanted797]

I hate that monitor so much since someone pointed out it looks upside down.

 

[Morgenland]

eGPU delay.
AirPower (never really interested me like many others due to inherent disadvantages).
Monitors with Face-ID and Gesture (Apple wants us to exhibit LG and similar contractors on our desks).
The missed DJI market (drones, ultra-mobile video gimbal systems).

All Lost Terrain on Apple's Consumer Electronics Sector.

Everything not realized.
This is a reproach that I am sure Mr Cook (whom I otherwise appreciate very much) is already realizing himself.

Fewer watch bands (this is just business, not a thrilling development) and a bit faster response time to new markets and customer needs.

Of course, the lucrative markets are difficult to serve: Health (DXCM, diabetes), automotive (car-sharing, H2, navigation). Alphabet seems to be hatching more at the moment. That's just a feeling, I hope Apple will soon prove the opposite again!
I hope for change!

 

[Ankou_Sabat]

The one good positive that this BlackMagic eGPU has vs something like the Razer Core X is that its the only one that has a direct thunderbolt output to display from the GPU. Meaning its the only one you can output to thunderbolt input monitors. The Razer Core X is always going to be limited output to what is physically on the card. Thats something I hope they add to the update of the Razer Core X.

That being said, hopefully they fix the eGPU problems and support for eGPUs in general (maybe why its delayed).

Everything I've seen so far has been a mess as far as eGPU support. Even support for NVIDIA is sketchy thanks to fights between NVIDIA and Apple over drivers. If you get the BlackMagic eGPU you still have problems.

- FCPX doesn't use it if your base system already has a discrete GPU
- FCPX doesn't have selectable option to "force" render with GPU
- preview window in FCPX doesn't utilize eGPU unless preview is on the last component in the chain in an external display
- if it is not on the exact connection order and outputting to a separate screen of Mac -> eGPU -> External display FCPX doesn't use the eGPU, if you have no external GPU at the end of it, it doesn't utilize it

FCPX aside, its hit or miss wether software takes advantage of the eGPU. Its still a mess of support for it.

These in-depth goes into a host of problems:

 

[Morgenland]

Looked at the setup new MacMini and LG display at our local Apple shop last week. Looks sweet.
I am on a spect up iMac 27 late 2013. I am soooo ready for an upgrade.
However with so many indications that Apple will come out with new iMacs and or new display...
So I will wait some more.
Once new models are available I will look at the different offerings again.
Will an external eGPU make a difference to Photoshop? And if it does, at AUD1999.00 it would have to be outrageously fast to justify the cost.

I am awaiting too....

 

[trifid]

I hate that monitor so much since someone pointed out it looks upside down.

Ugliest monitor in the history of flat screens. Every time I see it it hurts my eyes. I can't believe Apple chose that as their flagship monitor for their products.

I really can't imagine Jony Ivy seriously recommending this to a mac user with a straight face.

 

[Delgibbons]

I'm starting to sense a theme here..

Vapourware

 

[Dorje Sylas]

Why should I trust on Thunderbolt 3 since Thunderbolt 1 and 2 lasted for about only five years (2011-2016)? To get things worse, the TB3<->TB2 adapter from Apple receives bad reviews because of incompatibility issues when the host connection is TB2.

As a matter of comparison USB-A socket, on the other hand, lasted for about 18 years in Apple products (1998-2016).

I think the major difference is the bit of future proofing the TB3 has. It is good enough to run eGPUs with some reliability. Which is getting the attention of generic PC manufactures. It really means the transfer speed is okay enough to start considering things like external PCIe bays. Stuff like the Sonnet Tech Echo Express SEL, which allows low profile PCIe cards.

TB1&2 was only really being used for external Data-drives, and an octopus array of adapters to other port types. Neither really felt "mature" technologies. TB3 is using the USB-C connection type, which will be hanging around for a while since its being adopted by the wider PC OEMs (slowly, but just about every major PC is seeing at least 1 USB-C port). And it's just fast enough to bring external expansion options to laptops, tablets, and MiniPCs.

 

[BayouTiger]

It’s a Blackmagic product sold by Apple, just like the LG. Monitors, or LaCie drives or whatever. Why is this Apple’s problem?

This forum has become the most ridiculous troll den on the internet. Really getting stupid.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Apple should change its name to 'Apple Delays Inc'.

 

[Morgenland]

Its amazing how so many products Apple introduces are not available at the original release time frame (some cases are more than a year). Its almost like Apple management has no clue what they are doing. With Jobs people were fired for missing deadlines, but now it seems its just, "Oh, well, we'll try harder next time."

Does not give one a lot of confidence in the new Apple.

In principle, I agree with you, but there are much more effective and meaningful instruments than threat of dismissal. These are ultimately stupid and helpless and thus weak methods.